Preamble 
 
In order to promote a better America, with equality, opportunity, and freedom within a just and strong society, we dedicate ourselves to organizing the participation of Democratic college students at Towson University. In this mission, we call for full participation of all Towson students, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, physical handicap, gender identity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. 
 
Understanding the importance of participation inside and outside the Democratic Party to gain a progressive majority to the preservation of our values and principles, we, Democratic college students, do hereby associate ourselves and adopt this Constitution as the Towson University College Democrats.

In that we aim to create an activist culture on campus, we strive for the full employment of our general membership to accomplish the ends of organizing, informing, and mobilizing the campus around a progressive cause. 
 
Article 1: Name and Purpose 
 
A: Name: The name of this organization shall be the Towson University College Democrats, hereafter referred to in this document as the “College Democrats”. 
 
B: Purpose: The College Democrats pledge itself to promoting a progressive message within the Democratic Party to gain a progressive majority to affect change on a local, state, and national level, even when hat message conflicts with the Democratic majority.  To these ends, the College Democrats will train its members to:

 
1. Organize the campus and surrounding community around the progressive cause; 
 
2. Assist in the election of local, state, and national that promote progressive ideals; 
 
3. Affect political change on the local, state, and national level;

4. Promote awareness of the philosophy of the Democratic Party to fellow students and peers. 
 

Article 2: Membership 
 
A: Members: Membership in the College Democrats shall be open to any college student currently enrolled at Towson University who wishes to be known as a College Democrat and who has the best interests of the College Democrats and the Democratic Party at heart, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, physical handicap, gender identity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. 
 

B: Active membership in the College Democrats can be obtained by any member of Towson University community.

1. A member is considered active once they have: attended 4 meetings, or 2 meetings and 1 event, or 2 events.

2. A member is deemed inactive if they do not attend any meetings or events for 4 weeks.

3. Membership is reactivated by attending 2 meetings or 1 event. 
 
 

Article 3: The Organizing Committee 
A: Composition: The Organizing Committee shall be composed of the Two Co-Organizing Directors, Treasurer, and Secretary. 

B: The Organizing Committee will provide leadership and direction towards the agenda and policies of the organization. 
 
C: The Organizing Committee will be made up of officers.

D: Officers and Chairs are automatically deemed active members.

 

Article 4: Duties of the Organizing Committee 
A: All Organizing Committee members must maintain active involvement in all of the College Democrats activities and endeavors.

1. All Organizing Committee members must complete at least 2 hours of table participation per 30 days

2. All Organizing Committee members must attend all events held by the College Democrats on campus, and at least one event held off campus. In exceptional circumstances, an Organizing Committee member can be absent from an on-campus event with 24 hour written notice. Events are defined in Article 6, Section J-1.

3. All Organizing Committee members must complete 2 hours of office hours per week.

4. All Organizing Committee members are expected to attend all General and Organizing Committee meetings. -Notice of an absence should be given to the Co-Organizing Directors 24 hours before the meeting.

5. The Co-Organizing Directors, consulting the Organizing Committee, will have the authority to appoint a member of either the Organizing Committee or an active general member to become the Webmaster, who will handle the website and other Internet matters.

a. The Co-Organizing Directors will interview interested candidates for the position;

b. The Organizing Comittee will have a simple majority vote on the perspective candidates;

c. The Co-Organizing Directors will designate the duties of the Webmaster;

d. The Co-Organizing Directors have the authority to disband the position at the authority of a simple majority vote of the Organizing Committee;

e. The position will be maintained throughout the Co-Organizing Director’s Administration, and can be disbanded at will by next Administration;

f. The Webmaster is not held by the same guidelines as other Organizing Committee members, and is held accountable by the Co-Organizing Directors;

g. The Webmaster can attend Organizing Committee meetings, but it is not mandatory unless otherwise directed by the Co-Organizing Directors;

h. This position does not have Organizing Committee voting privileges, though it maintains an active member vote.

 

B: Duties of the Co-Organizing Directors (2). The Co-Organizing Directors shall: 
 
 
1. Define the agenda, with the consent of the general members, of the College Democrats during his or her tenure; 
 
2. Act as the official representatives of the College Democrats to other groups and the media; 
 
3. Carry out the mandates, policies, and directives of the Organizing Committee; 
 
4. Preside over all meetings of the College Democrats;

5. Carry out mandates of the Progressive Democrats of America and the College Democrats of America as long as they do not conflict with the organization’s positions on the issues;

6. Actively hold Organizing Committee members accountable for their duties.

7. In absence of secretary at meetings, will assume responsibility of taking attendance;

8. Plan event(s) to meet the Community Service requirements as mandated by the SGA; 
 
9. Collect, store, and analyze statistical data on membership participation from the Secretary, Director of Events, and Director of Political Organizing and report findings to the Organizing Committee with graphical representations; 
 

D: Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:

     1. Prepare all grants;

2. Manage the bank account and budget;

3. Attend the Treasurer’s Workshop as often as it is mandated by the SGA;

4. Attend FAC budget hearings as required by the budgeting process; 
 
5. Raise 15% of semester budget per FAC policy;

6. Secure at least one fundraising event per month per fall and spring semester;

7. Perform such duties as the Co-Organizing Directors may assign and take on projects of his or her choosing.

E: Duties of the Secretary.  The Secretary shall:

1.  Keep logs and records of each meetings activities and the agenda of each meeting;

2.  Provide a sign in sheet at all general meetings;

3.  Maintain a “live” mailing list and take initiative to inform all members of meetings, news, and or events of the College Democrats including, but not limited to, the creation of a weekly digest;                        

4. Compile attendance statistics and report to them to the Co-Organizing Directors; 
 
5.  Perform such duties as the Co-Organizing Directors may assign and take on projects of his or her own choosing.

Article 5: Committees and Committee Chairs 
A.  The Committee will be the driving force of the decision making for the organization.

B.  The Committees will be composed on general active members.  One can choose which every committee that would like to participate in.  You can participate in more than one. 

C. Any other additional committees can be established at anytime with a simple majority vote from the active membership. 

D: Chair of the Media Committee. He or she shall:

1. Coordinate all publicity activities including, but not limited to, messages in the Daily Digest, The Towerlight, table tents, flyers, and posters with the Media Committee; 
    

2. He or She will act as the mediator of the committee.  He or she will have influence just as every other committee member has but does not have additional power.   
    

3. He or She will act as the liaison to the Co-Organizing Directors. 
    

4. The Media Committee: 
    

1. Notify media of all newsworthy events of the College Democrats in an attempt to ensure media coverage; 
    

2. Coordinate the activities of the Media Committee and prompt members to write pro-Democratic letters to the Towerlight and other publications; 
    

3. Elicit help for the group’s promotional activities through other student organizations; 
    

4. Be knowledgeable of campus policies regarding the posting and distribution of information; 
    

5. Generate at least one article in the Towerlight per month about the group’s activities; 
    

6. Create a comprehensive media plan as to generate earned media and promote the group and its activities; 
    

7. The committee will choose someone from the committee other than the chair to represent them at a planning meeting every week or every other week, which will be outside the general meeting.  The planning meeting will consume of the Co-Organizing Directors and a representation from each committee.   
    

E: Chair of the Political Organizing Committee. He or she shall: 
 

1. He or She will act as the liaison to the Co-Organizing Directors. 
    

2. He or She will act as the mediator of the committee.  He or she will have influence just as every other committee member has but does not have additional power.   
    

3. Political Organizing Committee will: 
    

1. Organize the campus and grow the general membership around the Democratic cause; 
    

2. Coordinate and monitor the activities of the Street Team, as defined in Article 7; 
    

3. Organize weekly tabling and/or flyering on a rotating schedule to involve members of the Street Team; 
    

4. Strategize activist campaigns around issues affecting college students and events on campus; 
    

5. Be knowledgeable of campus policies regarding the posting and distribution of information; 
    

6. Create canvassing and other political action events; 
    

7. Set topic of discussion for meetings that pertain to current events and organize letter-writing and phoning campaigns around pending legislation that is discussed when appropriate; 
    

8. Create an organizing strategy each semester to grow membership and keep existing members active. Adjust strategy if it is failing; 
    

9. Keep track of attendance during tabling and flyering and report statistics to the Co-Organizing Directors; 
    

10. The committee will choose someone from the committee other than the chair to represent them at a planning meeting every week or every other week, which will be outside the general meeting.  The planning meeting will consume of the Co-Organizing Directors and a representation from each committee.   
     

F: Chair of the Events Committee. He or she shall: 
 

1. He or She will act as the mediator of the committee.  He or she will have influence just as every other committee member has but does not have additional power.   
    

2. He or She will act as the liaison to the Co-Organizing Directors. 
    

3. Function of the Events Committee: 
    

1. Coordinate at least 6 events each semester to grow membership and maintain group cohesion. Events are defined as: 
    

1. Social events include film screenings, parties, Donkeyfest, trips to museums, comedy shows, or any College Democrats event that provides social cohesion and entertainment for the group; 
    

2. Political events include speaking engagements, trips to the polls, debates, off-campus voter registration, or any College Democrats event that promotes awareness and participation in the Democratic cause; 
    

3. Political debates organized by all of the political parties on campus can only count as one event; 
    

4. Tabling, flyering, on-campus voter registration, speaker forums and activities organized by outside organizations, and community service activities are not considered events as coordinated by the Director of Events.  
    

2. Be responsible for organizing transportation to and from events held outside of campus; 
    

3. Create a schedule and general events plan each semester; 
    

4. Work with the Media Committee and the Political Organizing Committee to make the events as visible as possible. 
    

5. Poll general members at least once every semester as to the effectiveness and overall appeal of The Towson University College Democrats;  
    

6. Keep track of attendance during events and report statistics to the Co-Organizing Directors; 
    

7. Perform such duties as assigned by the Co-Organizing Directors and take on projects of his or her own choosing. 
    

8. The committee will choose someone from the committee other than the chair to represent them at a planning meeting every week or every other week, which will be outside the general meeting.  The planning meeting will consume of the Co-Organizing Directors and a representation from each committee. 

G: Chair of the Towson Progressive Committee. He or she shall;

1. Be the Editor-in-Chief of the Towson Progressive 
    

2. He or She will act as the mediator of the committee.  He or she will have influence just as every other committee member has but does not have additional power.   
    

3. He or She will act as the liaison to the Co-Organizing Directors. 
    

4. Towson Progressive Committee: 
    

1. Creates and publishes the Towson Progressive every other week. 
    

2. The committee will choose a layout editor. 
    

3. Divide writing assignments among members. 
    

4. You do not have to be part of the committee to write for the publication.   
    
    

Article 6: Elections 
A. Election dates

      1. General elections occur once per year, at the end of the Spring Semester

2. Special elections for normal vacancies will occur in the Fall Semester, or during the general election if the vacancy occurs in the Spring Semester

B. In order to be eligible to run for a position, and/or to vote in an election, one: 

1.  Must be an active member

C: Procedure for general elections

1. All candidates must declare their intent to run 2 weeks prior to the election, including current Organizing Committee members who wish to run again

3. Declarations of candidacy must occur at the general meetings. Candidates sign a declaration pledge that is filed by the secretary

4. Elections will be done by secret ballot with one vote per person

5. Votes are counted by the Secretary, unless the Secretary is one of the candidates, in which case the Co-Organizing Directors will count the votes

6. The winner will be announced directly following the election

7. The Co-Organizing Directors must keep the ballots and final tally for two weeks following the election

D. Campaign rules pertaining to the Organizing Committee

1. Definitions of campaigning

a. Promoting one candidate over another in the presence of the general membership

b. Disseminating information to the general membership about a candidate that could influence the outcome of the election

2. Organizing Committee members may not campaign for candidates 60 days prior to the election.

3. The Co-Organizing Directors has the sole authority to recommend candidates when there are no declared candidates after the day of declaration

4.  The Co-Organizing Directors has the responsibility to encourage competitive elections 
 

Article 7: Removal 
A.  Any committee can replace the chair of the committee, if they are dissatisfied,  at any point with a 2/3 vote

B. Cause for removal: Cause for removal shall be defined as malfeasance or nonfeasance of duties assigned by the Organizing Committee or delineated within this document, or as ineligibility for Organizing Committee membership pursuant to Article 2. Cause for removal shall also include grounds found by 3/4 members of the Organizing Committee to constitute good and sufficient cause or excessive absence from General and Organizing Committee meetings ( 3 consecutive meetings or 4 meetings in total).

C. Process for removal: To begin the process for removal, another member of the Organizing Committee must charge the officer with the reasons for his or her removal publicly at a meeting of the Organizing Committee. The officer in question must be offered an opportunity to defend him or herself. After a period of one week, the issue shall be put to a vote. A simple majority of the members of the Organizing Committee must vote for removal for an officer to be removed. 
 
 

Article 8: Vacancies 
A: Declaration of vacancy: A vacancy shall be declared when a member of the Organizing Committee dies, resigns, or is removed from office. Vacancies will be defined separately as normal and special vacancies.

B. Procedures for normal vacancies

1. A normal vacancy is defined as a vacancy that is announced 60 days prior to the  
end of the semesters classes

2. Normal vacancies are formally announced at the general meeting

3. Normal vacancies follow the general election procedures referred to in Article 5

C. Procedures for special vacancies

1. A special vacancy is any vacancy that occurs without 60 days advanced notice

3. If the vacancy occurs in an Organizing Committee position there will be a special election to fill the position

4. Special vacancies are formally announced at the general meeting, and at that meeting special elections will be declared

5. Co-Organizing Directors may recommend candidates after the meeting if there are no declared candidates, but not before

6. Upon the first declaration of candidacy, elections will occur at the following meeting

7. General members may decide to declare candidacy on the day of the special election

8. Candidates do not have to file formal declarations in writing

      9. The Co-Organizing Directors has the responsibility to encourage competitive elections 
 

Article 9: Amendments 
A: Procedure: The Constitution can be amended by a 2/3-majority vote by the Active Members.

Article 10: Adding or Deleting Positions 
A:  In order to add a new position or delete a current position on the Organizing Committee, a 51% majority vote is required by the General Membership.

Article 11: Platform 
A:  The College Democrats will draft a comprehensive platform that reflects the political views of the active membership 
 
B: The platform will be publicly available on the website and its contents will be used in informational materials promoting the group

C: During political debates, the College Democrats will debate from the positions contained in the platform

D: Procedures for adding/deleting sections from the platform

            1: Each issue is to be voted on and discussed individually 
             
            2. A discussion will be held about each amendment during the general meeting

3. A vote of active members by show of hands will follow the discussion

      4. Support from 2/3rds of the active membership is required to pass an amendment